Marinella

She was born Kyriaki Papadopoulou, in the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. She released her first song in 1957, "Nitsa Elenitsa" ("Little Helen"). Her early career was marked by her collaboration with singer Stelios Kazantzidis.

Marinella was the first Greek singer to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1974, placing eleventh with the song "Krasi, Thalassa Kai T' Agori Mou" ("A little wine, a little sea and my man"). She also performed in several Greek musicals, both as singer and actress. Her popularity rose in the 70s and 80s, with a string of successful albums and live shows. She developed a new standard for shows in the Greek night clubs, introducing costumes, dancing, and special lighting effects. Many of today's popular Greek singers (Anna Vissi, Despina Vandi etc.) have modelled their shows on Marinella's shows of the 80's.

In 1998, Marinella performed in the Megaron Music Hall of Athens, performing her older hits to great acclaim. In 2003, she collaborated with George Dalaras. They gave concerts in Athens and Thessaloniki as well as abroad. The tour was titled "Mazi" ("Together") and the released CD from these performances reached platinum status. In 2004, she released a brand new album with new songs by Nikos Antypas and Lina Nikolakopoulou. In the same year she performed at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

In 2005, Marinella released a new album titled Tipota Den Ginete Tyhea, composed by famous Greek composer and lyricist Giorgos Theofanous. The album reached gold status and includes duets with famous Greek singers, such as Antonis Remos, Glykeria and Kostas Makedonas. In 2006, 2 new compilations of Marinella were officially released, the first titled Sti Skini and containing older live recordings and the second one titled Ta Logia Ine Peritta - 50 Chronia Tragoudi, which is a complete 8 CDs boxset with Marinella's greatest hits from the beginning of her career till her collaboration with Kostas Hatzis at "Recital".

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